Name: Marion Willekens
Dress + Designer: Jagger, by Caroline Takvorian
Wedding date: 23.07.2022
Wedding location: Berghotel Chäserstatt, Switzerland
Photography: Evi Clerckx & Margaux Maesen

What should a wedding dress convey to you?

Self-confidence and personality

What does a wedding dress mean to you?
A wedding dress above all reflects the character and story of the bride, offers comfort and confidence and plays trump cards. After all, this is the day you want to feel your best and look your best for your future significant other. It will then remain an eternal and tangible memento of one of the most beautiful days of your life.

Did you have certain expectations in advance about a wedding dress? Have they come true?
I found the first appointment very exciting. After a lot of preliminary research, I was able to agree with many different styles and models. My wish list was very diverse, but fortunately Sara, the stylist, cleverly filtered various dresses.
I wanted to feel beautiful, comfortable and 'myself', and it soon became clear how my shape and face looked good.
In three dresses a smile spontaneously appeared on my face. Bright eyes told the other attendees that this could be 'the dress'. After trying these three over and over again, I opted for the 'golden mean'. For a long time afterwards the other two dresses haunted my mind, but the closer the big day got, the more convinced I was that I had made the right choice. Looking back, I couldn't or wouldn't imagine myself in any other dress.

How would you describe your style in 3 words?
Timeless, feminine, 'with an edge'

What made your dream dress perfect for you?
I wanted a special dress that made me feel special and beautiful, that showed off my figure (without stealing the show) and importantly: that I felt 100% comfortable in. I was looking for a dress that suited me, with a personal meaning.
I really like the minimalist, modern style, so when I saw Jagger's simple, flowing skirt in combination with the fantastic embroidered top with slight transparency and a sexy dropped back, I was sold.
The extremely elegant silhouette, the subtle and stylish shimmer and the Edelweiss-like flowers certainly won me over.
I wanted a timeless dress that I would still love 10, 30 and 50 years from now, and this design by Caroline Takvorian did just that.

What were your expectations of a bridal boutique?
Well, through my research through dresses from my favorite designers, I ended up at your bridal shop. I've been following you on Instagram for a while and I completely agree with your style. I think the overall picture is important: not just the dresses, but also a stylish interior, a warm welcome and professional guidance. I really like the Dutch openness, goal-orientedness and straightforward approach. I was hoping for honest advice and no sales pitches, a modern and original collection to choose from, and simply a pleasant, pleasant experience. With a bit of luck, also a successful one. I got that.

What did you like most about your experience at Wild At Heart?
The choice is fantastic: just spacious enough without being overwhelming, original, unique and modern. What I appreciated most was the endless patience and soothing calm with which I was helped, the attentive and listening ear to my wishes and the sensitive, expert advice without steering me in a certain direction. We far exceeded the planned duration of the first appointment, but I felt safe and comfortable throughout the entire appointment. I have rarely felt so special and beautiful, for which a big thank you, ladies.

What does a wedding mean to you?
Showing that you choose each other and celebrating that love, together with the people who mean the most to you: the very best friends and family.

Who were all present?
Practically our entire family was there, plus a couple of friends. My husband and I also both invite our two best (childhood) friends and their partners. In total we had 50 guests, an ideal group, very intimate and cozy but still large enough for nice reunions, endless conversations and a party with ambiance.

What was the highlight of your wedding?
Difficult to choose just one moment, but the live music in the small, intimate chapel meant a lot to us as musicians. When I entered Fleetwood Mac's subdued 'Landslide', played acoustically by my girlfriend on guitar, I had a hard time. I will also never forget the cutting of the 'wedding cake' (a huge ball of local cheese) and the dance party.
But the absolute highlight was without a doubt the sunset in the evening, where all guests spontaneously got up from their seats to admire the golden mountain peaks. Our Instax spontaneously created group photos of guests who knew each other very well or barely knew each other, a competition for the funniest poses and, above all, lots of personal conversations and laughter. Everyone was visibly enjoying themselves.

What advice would you give to future brides?
Follow your feelings when making choices for your wedding day and first choose the things that mean a lot to you personally, not because (you think) other guests expect them from you. Don't waste unnecessary energy or money on the 'perfect' details that will be overlooked, and focus on what matters: a nice party to celebrate your love. On the big day itself: let go of all expectations and trust others, so that you can enjoy yourself without any worries!

Would you like to share something about your wedding day?
In retrospect, what I'm most happy about is the realization that if someone asked me to do it all over again, I would make exactly the same choices. It was a day that suited us 200% and that we will cherish for a long time.